Archetypal contour shapes

Abstract

Shapes are represented by contour functions from planar object outlines. Functional archetypal analysis is proposed to describe closed contour shapes. Each contour function is approximated by a convex combination of functional contour archetypes, which are a mixture of cases in the data set. Archetypes represent extreme shape patterns and improve the interpretability of highly complex distributions. The archetypal contours of feet from an anthropometric database of the adult Spanish population are extracted, which is useful for improving the fit in footwear.